Floryan Varennes's 'Alter-Héraut' Blends Medievalism and Medical Imagery at Istres
Floryan Varennes, born in 1988, showcases his inaugural solo exhibition titled 'Alter-Héraut' at the Centre d’art contemporain intercommunal in Istres from September 8, 2018, to January 10, 2019. This plastician and historian delves into medieval themes, the medical field, and ceremonial attire, drawing parallels between the past and the present. A key focus of the exhibition is 'fin'amor,' or courtly love, viewed as both an ideal and a limitation. Varennes repurposes clothing remnants and converts medical instruments into artistic pieces, such as the beaded neck brace 'Jouvence.' The display occupies five rooms across three levels, each adorned in varying shades of blue, separated by PVC curtains. The title alludes to heralds and heroes, featuring works like 'Mythopoeia,' 'Fin’Amor,' and 'Discipline et Métamérie.' Isabelle de Maison Rouge provided a review of the exhibition.
Key facts
- Floryan Varennes's first solo exhibition 'Alter-Héraut' at Centre d’art contemporain intercommunal, Istres.
- Exhibition runs from September 8, 2018 to January 10, 2019.
- Varennes is a plastician and historian born in 1988.
- Themes include medievalism, medical imagery, and ceremonial dress.
- Courtly love ('fin'amor') is a central concept, explored as both ideal and constraint.
- Sculptures use clothing fragments like collars and sleeves, often embellished with beads or pins.
- Medical devices such as cervical collars are repurposed as art objects.
- Exhibition installed in five rooms with blue color schemes evoking different atmospheres.
- Transparent PVC curtains are used as partitions.
- Works have titles referencing myths and courtly culture.
Entities
Artists
- Floryan Varennes
- Isabelle de Maison Rouge
Institutions
- Centre d’art contemporain intercommunal
- artpress
Locations
- Istres
- France
Sources
- artpress —